Toy front loader with caterpillar drive

ABSTRACT

The invention has to do with a front loader which includes caterpillar treads and remote control means for operating either tread, individually in a forward or reverse direction. Such individual operation of the treads turns the vehicle to the right or left depending on the identity of the tread operated and the direction in which it is operated. The treads may also be operated in unison, either forward or backward whenever desired, or they may be simultaneously operated in opposite directions. A scoop at the front of the vehicle may be raised and lowered by remote control without substantial tilting of the scoop. Tilting of the scoop is effected by remote control through trains which are composed exclusively of articulated, rigid members.

United States Patent 1 Gagnon 11 3,744,181 [451 July 10,1973

[ TOY FRONT LOADER WITH CATERPILLAR DRIVE [76] Inventor: Robert A.Gagnon, Star Route 2,

Box 944, Trail, Oreg. 97541 [22] Filed: Aug. 15, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:280,871

[52] U.S. Cl 46/244 A [51] Int. Cl A63h 33/26 [58] Field of Search46/244 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,691,681 9/1972Gagnon 46/244 A 2,244,528 6/1941 Schur 46/244 A Primary Examiner-LouisG. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting Attorney-Clarence M.Crews [57] ABSTRACT The invention has to do with a front loader whichincludes caterpillar treads and remote control means for operatingeither tread, individually in a forward or reverse direction. Suchindividual operation of the treads turns the vehicle to the right orleft depending on the identity of the tread operated and the directionin which it is operated. The treads may also be operated in unison,either forward or backward whenever desired, or they may besimultaneously operated in opposite directions. A scoop at the front ofthe vehicle may be raised and lowered by remote control withoutsubstantial tilting of the scoop-Tilting of the scoop is effected byremote control through trains which are composed exclusively ofarticulated, rigid members.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures TOY FRONT LOADER WITH CATERPILLAR DRIVE Thisinvention relates to a remotely controlled earth moving toy in the formof a caterpillar driven front loader. The present toy is in the natureof an improvement upon the toy front end loader disclosed and claimed inmy co-pending application Ser. No. 189,145, filed Oct. 14, 1971, forRemotely Operated Earth Moving Toy, now U. S. Pat. No. 3,691,681.

Features of novelty of the present invention include the following:

There is a single rigid body having caterpillar treads at its oppositesides, either of which may be driven forward or backward independentlyof the other for steering purposes. The treads may also be oppositelydriven simultaneously for turning the toy in place. The treads may alsobe driven forward or backward in unison for causing the toy to travel ina straight course.

The use of strings or cables for rocking the scoop is avoided. Rigidmembers for rocking the scoop are so arranged, and are so coordinatedwith scoop raising and lowering means, that the scoop does notmaterially change its attitude when moving between its lowest andhighest positions. e

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing forming part of this specification,

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of the right side of a complete, practicaland advantageous, illustrative toy which embodies features of theinvention, the scoop being shown in a raised position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the toy of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view generally similar to FIG. I, but with the scoop shownin itslowest position;

rigid tread bearing frames 14R and 14L affixed to its right and leftsides. These frames, the treads carried by them, the tread drivingmotors and the drive trains from the motors to the treads, at the rightand left sides are duplicates of one another. Accordingly, only theright-hand members referred to will be described in detail andcorresponding reference characters will be applied to the left-handmembers with the literal postscript L substituted for the literalpostscripts R of the described parts. It is to be clearly understoodthat the right-hand and left-hand treads may be operated independentlyof one another for controlling the direction in which the vehiclepoints. They may also be operated forward or backward in unison fordriving the vehicle forward or backward in a straight line. Stillfurther, they may be simultaneously operated in opposite directions forturning the vehicle without substantially changing the location of it.

The motors 16R and 16L are located side by side near the rear end of thebody. The motor 16R, through a pinion 18R and a crown gear 20R, drives asleeve 22R, which sleeve is revolubly mounted on a fixed transverseshaft 24. A gear 26R fast on the sleeve 22R drives a relatively largegear 28R fast on a sleeve 30R, which sleeve is revolubly mounted on afixed transverse shaft 32. A small gear 34R, also fast on the sleeve30R,

through a gear 36R, drives a sprocket 38R, the sprocket being revolublymounted on a transverse shaft 40. The sprocket 38R includes teeth 42Rwhich engage and drive links 44R of right-hand tread 46R. A similaridler sprocket is provided at the forward end of frame 14R. Between thesprockets, the tread runs on guide pulleys 48R, and between dirt guards49R.

The gearing from the motor 16R is, of course, simply illustrative ofsuitable speed reducing drive. Any -compact drive train capable ofproducing a suitable tread speed could be substituted.

A scoop carrier 50 includes parallel arms 52 through which it is mountedon the body 12 for rocking about an axis 54-54 which is indicated bybroken lines in FIG. 4, and by broken lead lines in FIGS. 1 and 3.

A motor 56 is provided for rocking the carrier 50 through anirreversible drive, that is to say, a drive such that the motor 56 canrock the carrier 50, but the carrier cannot turn the motor. An outputshaft 58, through a gear 60 fast thereon, drives a gear combination 62,64 fast on a shaft 66. The gear 64, in turn, drives a gear combination68, 70, fast on shaft 72, and the gear drives a gear 74, fast on a shaft76. Again the speed reducing gear train is essentially a routine matter.

The shaft 76 is connected through a coil spring 78 (which spring servesboth as a drive transmitting member and a universal joint) to a threadedshaft 80. The shaft 80 is thus free to rock relative to the shaft 76.The form of universal joint employed may, of course, be varied.

The threaded shaft 80 is screwed through a bail 82, which bail ispivotally connected at its lower ends to the respective arms 52 of thescoop carrier 50. The bail 82 comprises side arms and a nut 83 which ispivotally connected to the side arms. The nut 83 is also pivotallyconnected to the forward end of an anchor link 84, the link beingpivotally connected at its rear end to a raised portion of the body 12.The anchor link 84 serves to support shaft 80 whenthe latter bears theweight of a load.

Driving of the motor 56 in one direction raises the bail 82, and hencethe scoop carrier, to an elevated carrying and/or dumping position,while driving of the motor 56 in the opposite direction lowers the bail82, and hence the scoop carrier, to or toward a scooping or loadingposition.

A scoop 86 is tiltably mounted on a transverse shaft 88 which is carriedby the arms 52 of the carrier 50 at the forward ends of the arms.Tilting of the scoop between a generally level carrying position and ascooping position or a dumping position is effected through a motor 90.The motor 90, through suitable reducing gearing similar to that alreadydescribed in connection with motors 16R and 16L, drives a transverseshaft 92 upon which a crank 94 is made fast. The crank 94 is connectedthrough a link 96 to drive a lever 98.

It is a significant point that the lever 98 is mounted for pivotalmovement about the same axis 54 about which the carrier 50 is rockable.

The scoop operating connections are such that the.

scoop is caused to maintain a substantially uniform attitude as it ismoved up and down by the carrier. This feature is of particularimportance when the scoop is loaded and is in a level condition. To thisend a connecting link 100, equal in effective length to the distancebetween the carrier axis 54 and the scoop mounting axis 88, is connectedto the lever 98 at a point 104,

and to an ear 106 of the scoop at a point 108, such that the distancefrom 54 to 104 is substantially equal to the distance from 88 to 108. Inother words, the points marked 54, 104, 108 and 88 form the vertices ofa quadrilateral which is substantially a parallelogram. If 54-104 isconstantly parallel to 88-108, it is evident that the attitude of thelever 98 controls the attitude of the scoop. A fixed attitude of thelever 98 will therefore maintain a fixed attitude of the scoop, as thescoop is raised or lowered by the carrier.

If, therefore, the lever 98 has been operated to a position which levelsthe scoop 86, the scoop will remain level throughout movements of thescoop carrier between its highest and lowest positions. It is notessential that this relationship be as rigidly maintained as juststated, but it should, at least, be approximated sufficiently to preventsubstantial, unintended spilling of material from the scoop.

When the crank 94 and the link 100 are in overlapping alignment thelever 98 is in its rearmost position, with the scoop tilted upward asfar as possible in a nearly level attitude. There is nothing to preventthe operation of the crank 94 through and beyond this alignedrelationship in either direction. When this occuts the direction ofrocking of the scoop is reversed.

There is never any possibility of dumping the contents of the scoop ontothe body of the vehicle. The operation of the motor 90 is never blockedand when the crank passes through either position of alignment with thelink 100 the direction of tilting of the scoop is reversed.

All operations of the front loader toy are remotely controlled from alight and compact, portable power and control unit 110 shown in plan inFIG. 4 and in the partially included electrical diagram of FIG. 5.

The motors 56, 16R, 16L and 90 are all direct current motors. In eachinstance the energization of the field is provided by a permanent magnetso that reversal can be effected simply by reversing the direction ofcurrent flow through the armature. All motors are normally disconnectedand idle.

The circuitry of all four motors is identical. In FIG. 5, therefore, thecircuitry ofmotor 56 only is shown and will be briefly described withthe understanding that this description is essentially applicable toeach of the four motors.

Current is supplied by a battery 112 or the equivalent, such as arechargeable power unit, through positive and negative leads 114 and116, all of which form part of the compact, portable power and controlunit 110. Branch conductors 114a, 1 14b, 116a and ll6b provide switchterminals which may be selectively engaged by rocking of a normallyinactive switch lever 56a. The ends of the switch lever are conductivebut these ends are insulated one from the other.

Clockwise rocking of switch 56s connects 114a with 116a through thearmature of the motor 56 for driving the motor in one direction, whilecounterclockwise rocking of switch 56s connects 1 14b with 1l6b throughthe armature of the motor 56 for driving the motor 56 in the oppositedirection.

The actuating means for the several switch levers may take the form oflevers or buttons. As shown, button 118 drives the left tread forwardand button 120 drives the left tread backward. Button 122 drives theright tread forward and button 124 drives the right tread backward.

Rocking of the lever 126 in one direction raises the carrier 50 androcking of the lever 126 in the opposite direction lowers the carrier.

'Rocking of the lever 128 in one direction tilts the scoop downwardwhile rocking of the lever 128 in the opposite direction tilts the scoopupward. If, however, the crank 94 and the link 96 are operated throughan alignedcondition these effects are reversed.

All of the wires which run from the power and control unit to thevehicle are insulated from one another and combined into a single flatcable.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiment of myinvention. What I desire to cover by letters patent is set forth in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle adapted forscooping up, transporting, and dumping material, comprising, incombination,

a. a rigid body;

b. caterpillar treads at opposite sides of the body;

c. a scoop constructed and arranged for tilting between a carryingattitude and a scooping or dumping attitude;

(1. a scoop carrier rockably mounted on the body for raising andlowering the scoop;

e. separate, reversible operating motors for l. the right hand tread,

2. the left hand tread, 3. the scoop carrier, and 4. the scoop; and

f. a remote control and power unit including swtiches selectivelyoperable to drive any selected motor in either of two oppositedirections. 7

2. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehcile as set forthin claim 1 in which the scoop carrier includes parallel arms which arepivotally mounted upon a common axis at opposite sides of the body, andthe carrier drive includes a first motor driven shaft, a threaded secondshaft, driving meansconnecting the first shaft to the second shaft withfreedom for limited universal movement of the second shaft relative tothe first shaft, a yoke through which the second shaft is screwed, saidyoke being pivotally connected at its ends to said parallel arms, and afore-and-aft extending anchor link pivotally connected at one point tosaid yoke and at a rearwardly spaced point to a rear portion of thebody.

3. A' remotely controlled, electrically operated, toy vehicle as setforth in claim 1 in which the scoop carrier is mounted for rockingmovement on the body about a first transverse axis, the scoop is mountedfor rocking movement on the carrier about a second transverse axisparallel to, and at a fixed distance from, the first axis, and the drivetrain from the scoop operating motor to the scoop includes a motoroperated lever mounted on the body for pivotal movement about the firstaxis, a link which is pivotally connected to the lever about a thirdaxis which is movable but is located at a fixed distance from the firstaxis, said link being pivotally connected to the scoop on a fourth axis,the construction and arrangement being such that the four axes referredto are parallel to one another and form substantially the vertices of aparallelogram, so that a fixed attitude of the lever determines theattitude of the scoop throughout raising and lowering of the carrier.

4. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forthin claim 1 in which the remotely operated control unit comprises asource of electrical power and the requisite switches, and in whichrequired electrical conductors which run from the control unit to themotors on the vehicle are all combined, in insulated relation to oneanother, into a single, flat cable.

5. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forthin claim 1 in which the remote control unit includes selectivelyoperable means for driving each tread not only individually in a forwardor backward direction but also for drivingthe treads in barmony eitherforward or backward, or for driving the treads simultaneously in opposeddirections.

6. A toy front loader which includes a. a scoop;

b. a carrier on which the scoop is tiltably mounted;

two opposite directions at the will of the operator.

1. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle adapted forscooping up, transporting, and dumping material, comprising, incombination, a. a rigid body; b. caterpillar treads at opposite sides ofthe body; c. a scoop constructed and arranged for tilting between acarrying attitude and a scooping or dumping attitude; d. a scoop carrierrockably mounted on the body for raising and lowering the scoop; e.separate, reversible operating motors for
 1. the right hand tread, 2.the left hand tread,
 3. the scoop carrier, and
 4. the scoop; and f. aremote control and power unit including swtiches selectively operable todrive any selected motor in either of two opposite directions.
 2. Aremotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehcile as set forth inclaim 1 in which the scoop carrier includes parallel arms which arepivotally mounted upon a common axis at opposite sides of the body, andthe carrier drive includes a first motor driven shaft, a threaded secondshaft, driving means connecting the first shaft to the second shaft withfreedom for limited universal movement of the second shaft relative tothe first shaft, a yoke through which the second shaft is screwed, saidyoke being pivotally connected at its ends to said parallel arms, and afore-and-aft extending anchor link pivotally connected at one point tosaid yoke and at a rearwardly spaced point to a rear portion of thebody.
 2. the left hand tread,
 3. the scoop carrier, and
 3. A remotelycontrolled, electrically operated, toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1in which the scoop carrier is mounted for rocking movement on the bodyabout a first transverse axis, the scoop is mounted for rocking movementon the carrier about a second transverse axis parallel to, and at afixed distance from, the first axis, and the drive train from the scoopoperating motor to the scoop includes a motor operated lever mounted onthe body for pivotal movement about the first axis, a link which ispivotally connected to the lever about a third axis which is movable butis located at a fixed distance from the first axis, said link beingpivotally connected to the scoop on a fourth axis, the construction andarrangement being such that the four axes referred to are parallel toone another and form substantially the vertices of a parallelogram, sothat a fixed attitude of the lever determines the attitude of the scoopthroughout raising and lowering of the carrier.
 4. A remotelycontrolled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1 inwhich the remotely operated control unit comprises a source ofelectrical power and the requisite switches, and in which requiredelectrical conductors which run from the control unit to the motors onthe vehicle are all combined, in insulated relation to one another, intoa single, flat cable.
 4. the scoop; and f. a remote control and powerunit including swtiches selectively operable to drive any selected motorin either of two opposite directions.
 5. A remotely controlled,electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1 in which theremote control unit includes selectively operable means for driving eachtread not only individually in a forward or backward direction but alsofor drivingthe treads in harmony either forward or backward, or fordriving the treads simultaneously in opposed directions.
 6. A toy frontloader which includes a. a scoop; b. a carrier on which the scoop istiltably mounted; c. a body on which the carrier is rockably mounted forraising and lowering the scoop; d. a reversible motor mounted on thebody for raising and lowering the carrier and thereby raising andlower-ing the scoop between scooping and carrying positions; e. areversible motor mounted on the body for tilting the scoop betweencarrying and dumping positions; f. an operating train composed of rigidarticu-lated members connecting the latter motOr to the scoop; and g. aportable, remote control and power unit for selectively operating eitherof said motors in either of two opposite directions at the will of theoperator.